Turkey and Transatlantic Relations

Turkey’s place in the NATO alliance and Western institutions dates back to the years following World War II, when in 1947 President Harry S. Truman announced that the United states would provide political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces. Truman’s doctrine informed U.S. Marshall Plan support for Turkey and facilitated Turkey’s membership in most Western institutions formed over the course of the Cold War, including the OECD, NATO, the Council of europe and the OSCE. Turkey also developed its relations with the member states of the European Union, building a Customs Union and launching its candidacy for membership.

Today, many foundational elements linking Turkey to its Western allies and partners are being questioned. Dynamics across Turkey’s neighborhood— including the rise and fall of the co-called Islamic State, waves of migrants, or Russia’s efforts to project power and influence—are generating new uncertainties and tensions with regard to Turkey’s role, its relationships and allegiances. With these challenges in mind, we asked a number of eminent authors to address a broad set of issues related to Turkey and its role in transatlantic relations, ranging from historical and institutional relations to Turkey’s multi-vector foreign policy and its impact on contemporary relations across the North Atlantic. The result is this comprehensive volume. Many propose creative ways to rebuild and strengthen the alliance between Turkey and its transatlantic partners. At this time of fundamental and often disorienting changes, their ideas add value to our debates.